Display and sales case



1941- P. M. KLEINWACHTER 60 DISPLAY AND SALES CASE Filed Jan. 20, 1938 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 4, 1941. P. M. KLEINWACHTER 2,230,460

DISPLAY AND SALES CASE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 20, 1938 PatentedFeb. 4, 1941 PATENT. OFFICE 2,230,450 DISPLAY AND SALES case Paul M.kieinwachter, Chicago, Ill. Application January 20, 1938, Serial No.185,797

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in display and sales cases, andparticularly to such cases adapted for use where, although counter anddisplay space may be at a premium or'the sales demand small, it isdesirable to have several varieties of bulk merchandise attractively andappealingly displayed for sale.

One object of the invention is to provide a case of this character whichis simple and economical 0 to construct, which is of unusually sturdyand compact structure and adapted for ready portability, and which ishighly eflicient for the purpose -.of advantageously displaying for salein small space separated quantities of bulk merchandise such as nutmeats which will be maintained therein under conditions that are mostfavorable to their sales appeal and palatability.

Another object of the invention is to provide a display and sales casefor bulk merchandise wherein a small saleable portion of the merchandiseis maintained as a nonfiuctuating display in the front of the case untilthe major portion of the merchandise, which is concealed thereby, hasbeen withdrawn from behind the display, whereupon the display may bereleased for withdrawal from the case.

Another object resides in the provision of a case of this kind in whichthe portion of the merchandise on display is supported out of contactwith the front window of the case and in such an inclined plane that nosupport is required in front of the display, but when it is desired toremove the display the merchandise therein will easily slide intoposition for withdrawal from the rear of the case.

Another object is to provide a novel display and sales case in whichthere are a plurality of separate compartments for bulk merchandise,each including a display section for receiving a small portion of thefill and a vending section behind the display section for receiving theremainder .of the fill; and in which novel filling means properlydirects the selected merchandise into any chosen compartment,simultaneously depositing the correct proportions in the display and inthe vending sections without scattering into adjoining compartments.

Another object resides in the provision of a display and sales caseincluding an inner compartment section for receiving the bulkmerchandise and serving as the bottom of the case, and an outer shell orsection providing enclosing walls about said inner section, the sectionsbeing united rigidly into a compact unit in an improved simplifiedmanner which facilitates assembly of the case.

Other objects and advantages will become ap-, parent in the followingdescription and from the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a case embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is asectional elevational view taken substantially along line 2-2of Fig. I, with the top of the case removed for filling the merchandisecompartments.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a special filling device for the case.

Fig. 51 is a sectional elevational view taken in substantially the sameplane as Fig. 2, but on a reduced scale, showing a modified form of theinvention.

Fig. 5- is a plan view of the case with the top closure removed. v

.Fig. 6 is a view showing the severalpreformed parts which are assembledto produce the case.

While the invention is susceptible of ,various modifications andalternative constructions, I have shown in the drawings and will hereindescribe in detail, the preferred embodiment, but it is to be understoodthat I do not thereby intend to limit the invention to the specific formdisclosed, but intend to cover all modifications and alternativeconstructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention asexpressed in the appended claims.

In a display and sales case constructed according to the presentinvention, several varieties of bulk merchandise such as confections,nut meats, etc., may be displayed to equal advantage in juxtapositionwithin one enclosure, a portion of each varietybeing supported to forman attractive display spaced out of contact with the display window ofthe case and serving as a mask for the major portion of the merchandisebehind the display. A novel arrangement of illuminating and heatingmeans has the double function of acting upon the display as well as uponthe sales merchandise behind the display. Yet when the top closure ofthe case is removed, such illuminating and heating means will notobstruct convenient and efiicient filling of the individualcompartments. The special means for filling the compartments isconstructed to deposit substantially correct proportions of merchandisesimultaneously into both the display and sales sections of any selectedcompartment without scattering or spilling over into the adjoiningcompartments.

The case as a whole is constructed of simple preformed units which fittogether so compactly and closely as to require only a few screws, boltsor equivalent connecting means to hold the case with special referenceto Fig. 8, the case comprises an outer preformed casing or shell II!which supports a removable front glass window pane l I, a preformedinner or compartment unit 5 l2 which flts within the shell ii, a rearclosure l3 which is secured to the outer shell I. after the unit l2 hasbeen assembled therein, and a top closure i4 which may be removed fromthe case when bulk merchandise is to be placed in the i compartment unitI2.

Preferably, the outer shell III is formed of sheet metal parts securedpermanently together as by welding. It includes a pair of spaced,parallel side walls ll each of which has an inturned base flange 11along the lower edge and an inturned front flange ll (Figs. 1 and 5)along the forward edge. The flanges I. extend up substantiallyvertically for a limited distance and then throughout their major extentslant rearwardly at an angle which will facilitate inspection of theinterior of the case through the window II by a person standing beforethe case.

Between the vertical portions of the flanges I8 is a connecting frontwall panel l9, which, in the a present instance, has a narrow upperportion 20 lying in a slanting plane which follows the major or slantingportions of the flanges l8. Together the upper slanting panel portion 29(Fig. 2) and the flanges I! define a large window opening 30 which isclosed by the window pane II, the latter being received slidably betweenthe flanges l8 and angle strip guides 2| which are secured to the innerfaces of the side walls I. A card-holding strip 22, having its upper andlower edges reversely folded, may be secured to the outer face of theslanting front panel portion 29.

One feature of the preformed compartment unit I2 is that it coacts withthe outer shell II in a manner which facilitates assembly and requiresonly very simple fastening means. To this end, the compartment unit ispreferably made of sheet metal parts welded together and includes aplurality of spaced, parallel partitions 23 which are mounted upon abase plate 24 to provide a plurality of compartments, generallydesignated 25, for receiving loose bulk merchandise. In its principalarea the base plate 24 is horizontal, but a substantial front portion 21thereof is turned up to slantforwardly.

When the unit I2 is assembled with the outer shell [0, the horizontalportion of the base 24 rests upon the base flanges I! to form the bottomwall of the case, and the forward edge of the slanting front portion 2'!fits into the angle 55 formed between the vertical and slanting portionsof the front wall plate i9. The assembled relationship is maintained bya pair of bolts 23, one of which passes through the rear lower portionof each of the side walls II and the cor- 50 responding portion of therespective adjacent end partition plates 23 of the compartment unit. Asa result, the unit l2 is'held in position within the outer shell I0 atthe front by engagement thereof within the angle of the front wall andat the back 65 by the bolts 23. Through this arrangement, moreover, theforward edge of the compartment unit will provide an abutment for thelower edge of the window pane II,

An important feature of the invention resides 70 in the constructionwhereby a small portion of the saleable merchandise filling each of thecompartments 25 is retained at the front of the compartment as adisplay. Such display remains substantially unchanged to conceal thechanging 75 level of the major portion of the fill until the latter hasbeen substantially removed, Where- 5 upon the display may be releasedfor removal through the rear of the case. To this end, each compartmentis divided by a wall or plate 29 into a rear or sales section 39 and afront or display 5 section 3| (Fig. 2). The plate 29 is located'in aplane spaced from the window pane II and substantially rearwardly of theforward edges of the supporting partitions 23,-and slanting upwardly andrearwardly from an intermediate 10 point of the upturned bottom wallportion 21. The angle of the plate 29 is preferably less than 45 to thehorizontal so that bulk goods, such as nut meats, poured upon the platefrom the upper edge thereof and held against passage below the loweredge thereof will build up into a shallow, substantially uniform displaylayer 32 covering the plate to 'a substantially uniform depth within thepocket formed between the partition plates. Such display requires noadditional support to maintain the same substantially unvarying, andwill appear through the window II as the side 'of apyramid ofmerchandise within the compartment.

The relative angles of and the spacing between the window II and theplate 29 are such that the display layer 32 will remain out of contactwith the window, thereby avoiding smearing or clouding of the window asoccurs where the merchandise directly contacts the window. Desirably,the 30 forward edges of the partitions 23 are formed on a slantsubstantially parallel with the plate 29 for the sake of appearance andto avoid obstructing a view of all of the displays by a personapproaching the case from either side. 95

By mounting the plate 29 with the lower edge thereof spaced apredetermined distance from the slanting bottom wall portion 21, a gapwill be provided through which the bulk goods placed upon the plate 29will normally tend to escape 4 by sliding down the supporting inclinesto the horizontal portion of the bottom wall 24. However, when thecompartment has a fill of merchandise sufllcient to block the gap, thedisplay layer 32 will remain as has already been de- 4 scribed. When themassof goods in the sales section 39 has been depleted to the extentthat the gap is no longer effectively blocked, the display layer 32 willautomatically slide from the display section into the sales section andthus prepare the display section to receive a refill. In this mannerthere will be a turnover of all of the merchandise within thecompartment and the display layer 32 will indicate the true character ofthe goods on sale.

In another form of the invention, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the plate 29may be slidably supported between suitable guides 33 to engage at itslower edge with the slanting bottom wall portion 21. In this manner thedisplay will be held until released by pulling the plate 29 up in theguides so that the display merchandise may slide into the sales section39, similarly as occurs in the construction shown in Fig. 2 after thedisplay clearing gap of the latter is unblocked. 55

In order to facilitate dispensing the merchandise from the sales section39 by means of a scoop (not shown) such as is commonly used for thepurpose, a plate 34 may be secured between the partitions 23 of eachcompartment spaced rearwardly from the display supporting plate 29 toform therewith a sort of hopper. The hopper plate 34 may be shorter thanthe display plate 29 and extends upwardly in spaced relation to thehorizontal portion of the bottom wall 24 so that the bull: merchandisecontained in the hopper will pass below the lower edge thereofrearwardly in a controlled layer onto the rear portion of the bottomwall for ready access from the rear of the case. After the compartmentunit l2 has been assembled with the outer shell ID, the rear closure 3maybe incorporated with the assembly by securing the same to the rearedges ofthe side walls to form the rear wall of the case. Preferably,the rear closure is section 35 and a hingedly connected lower doorsection 31. The upper section is preferably secured permanently to theside walls, and the lower or door section is swingable to open positionfor access to the interior of the case. The door section 31 is providedwith a handle 38. A catch, comprising a detent 39 on the door section 31and a detent receiving spring clip40'on the upper section, serves tohold the door open when desired. The free edge of the door sectionengages with a curb 4| on the rear edge of the bottom wall 24. I

Novel means is provided for maintaining the merchandise within the easein an attractive condition; and butter toasted nut meats in particular',in an appealing and savory condition of aroma and palatability. Hereinthis means comprises electric lamps 42 and a heater 43 which are mountedin sockets 44 supported near the top of the upper rear wall section 35in a position the lamps.

section 30 of the compartments will be maintained in a warm, aromaticand palatable condition and will be'illuminated for the benefit of thesales person.

To support the electric wires for the lamps 42 and the heater 43, anelongated, channelwardly upon the contents of the case. A reflectorshield .49 between the top closure tray and the heater 43 avoidsoverheating of the top closure.

To facilitate filling of the compartments 25 of adjoining compartments,loading the display section 3|, the invention contemplates the provisionof filling means 50. Herein this means is in the form of a substantiallyfunnel-shaped device especially designed for this particular purpose andincluding identical side walls 5|, a front wall 52 and a rear wall 53(Figs. 2, 3 and 5). The upper edges of the front and formed of an upperrear walls are each provided with an outstanding lip 54 for engagementwith the upper edge of the window II and the upper edge of the rear wallsection 35, respectively, to support the device above the chosencompartment.

The front wall 52 and the rear wall 53 or the filling device are soconstructed and related that together with the side walls 5| theyprovide a large receiving mouth at the top of the device and asubstantially restricted discharge throat and outlet directed in such amanner that bulk merchandise poured into the mouth will flow from theoutlet in substantially the correct proportions simultaneously into thesales section 30 and the display section 3i of the chosen compartment.To this end, considering the device in the filling position shown inFigs. 2 and 5. the front wall into the sales section 30 andin a smallerproportion into the display section 3|. In the case construction shown,about twenty-five percent of the complete fill will be in the displaysection 3| and the remaining seventy-five sales section 30. As eachcompartment is filled,

the filling device 50 may be slid into position over anothercompartment.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the present inventionprovides'a unique display and sales case in which several varieties ofloose bulk inating and heating the merchandise. and in shelled nutmeats, substantial advantage is secured by this invention through enhanced sales appeal and satisfaction of customers. Moreover, the simpleand compact arrangement of parts provides a case which may be veryeconomically produced.

I claim as my invention: 1. In combination in a display and sales case-of the character described, an outer shell comprising front and sidewalls, said front wall comprising a narrow substantially vertical lowerportion and a major rearwardly slanting upper portion having windowopening, guides at opposite sides of said opening, a glass window paneslidably mounted in said guides and closing said opening, said sidewalls along the lower edges thereof, a bulk merchanhaving inturnedlateral flanges.

said outer shell including a botrmrgins of its bottom the assembly andconstructed to permit access to.

said unit for removal of merchandise,and a top closure for the assemblyadapted to be opened for filling said unit with bulk merchandise.

2. In combination in a display and sales case of the characterdescribed, an outer shell comprising front and side walls, said frontwall including a vertical lower portion and a slanting upper portion, amerchandise unit including a generally horizontal bottom wall having anupturned forward portion, means on said side walls for slidablyreceiving the horizontal portion of said bottom wall, the forward edgeof said upturned portion fitting in the angle between the vertical andslanting portions of said front wall to hold the assembled unit andouter shell against relative vertical movement at the front of the case,and means for securing said unit against rearward movement out of saidouter shell and for holding the assembly against relative verticalmovement at the rear of the case.

3. A display and sales case for bulk merchandise comprising, incombination, side walls, a front wall having a window, a rear wallhaving an opening in the lower part thereof, a bottom wall including aportion slanting upwardly and forwardly toward said front wall, and aplate mounted in an upwardly and rearwardly slanting plane between saidside walls in spaced relation to said front and rear walls to provide alimited forward display section space and a relatively large rearwardsales section space accessible through said opening, the plane of saidplate being at such an angle less than 45 to the horizontal that bulkmaterial poured thereon will tend to build up a display layer thereon tobe viewed through said window, and said plate plane intersecting theplane of said slanting portion intermediate the ends of the latter sothat on moving down from said plate the display material will bedirected rearwardly toward said sales space but the material in saidsales space will block movement of the display material thereinto untilthe sales material is removed to a level-below the lower edge of saidplate.

4. A display and sales case for bulk merchandise comprising, incombination, side walls, a front wall having a window, a rear wallhaving an access opening in the lower part thereof, a bottom wallincluding a portion slanting upwardly and forwardly toward said frontwall, a plurality of horizontally spaced vertical partitions extendingin spaced front to rear planes and having the front edges thereofslanting rearwardly in spaced relation to said window and dividing theinterior of the case into a plurality of compartments, and a displayplate in each of said compartments mounted in an upwardly and rearwardlyslanting plane facing toward and in spaced relation to said window andthe said edges of said partitions and dividing the respectivecompartment into a limited forward display section and a relativelylarge rearward sales section accessible through said rear wall opening,the plane of each of said plates being at such an angle less than 45inturned flanges, the forward to the horizontal that bulk materialpoured thereon from above will tend to build up a display layer thereonlaterally con fined by the forward margins of the partitions and adaptedto be viewed through said window, and said display plate plane generallyintersecting the plane of said slanting portion of the bottom wall andeflecting a cooperative relationship with said slanting portion so thatbulk material in said sales space will block movement of thedisplay,materialdntothe-sales space-until the-buik1 material therein isremoved to a level below the lower edge of the display plate and onmoving down from the display plate the display material will be directedrearwardly into the sales space.

5. A display and sales case for bulk merchandise comprising. incombination, side walls, a front wall having a window, a rear wallhaving an opening in the lower part thereof, a bottom wall including aportion slanting upwardly and forwardly toward said front wall, adisplay plate moimted in an upwardly and rearwardly slanting planebetween said side walls in spaced relation to said front and rear wallsto provide a limited forward display space 'and a relatively largerearward sales space accessible through said rear wall opening, andasecond plate facing toward but rearwardly spaced from said displayplate and dividing said sales space into a hopper section to receive afill of bulk material and a scoop section, the lower edge of said hopperplate being spaced from said bottom wall to permit controlled rearwardflow of a shallow layer of material from the hopper section into thescoop section, the plane of said display plate being at such an angleless than 45 to the horizontal that bulk material poured thereon fromabove will tend to build up a display layer thereon spaced from saidwindow, the lower edgeof said display plate being so related to thelower edge of said hopper plate and to said slanting bottom wall portionthat as long as the bulk material within said hopper section is higherthan the lower edge of the display plate rearward movement of thedisplay material is blocked but upon removal of the sales fill from theblocking relation the display material will be directed rearwardly bysaid slanting portion into the hopper and scoop sections. I

6. A display and sales case for bulk merchandise comprising, incombination, side walls, a front wall having a window. a rear wallhaving an access opening in the lower part thereof, a bottom wallincluding a portion slanting upwardly and forwardly toward said frontwall, a plate mounted in an upwardly and rearwardly slanting planebetween said side walls in spaced relation to said front and rear wallsto provide a limited forward display section space and a relativelylarge rearward sales section space accessible through said accessopening. the plane of said plate being at such an angle less than 45'that bulk material poured thereon will tend to build up a display layerthereon to be viewed through said window, said plate plane intersectingthe plane of said slanting portion so that on moving down from saidplate the display material will be directed rearwardly toward said salesspace but the material in said sales space will block movement of thedisplay material thereinto until the sales material is removed to alevel below the lower edge of said plate, and means for simultaneouslyfilling both said display space and said sales space in properproportion from the top of the case.

PAUL M. KLEINWACHTER.

